Heating unit for locomotive tenders



Dec. 16, 1930. N. M. LOWER HEATING UNIT FOR LOCOMOTIVE TENDERS File '7, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 EMA ' [nven tor.- /Vat/iavz/lflowew Dec. 16, 1930.

N. M. LOWER HEATING UNIT FOR LOGOMOTIVE TENDERS Filed Jan. 7, 1924 ll-r" 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 fizmeiiaw:

N. M. LOWER HEATING UNIT FOR' LOCOMOTIVE TENDERS Dec. 16-, 1930.

Filed Jan. 7, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 n Q Q M m W u N m m Q K i U & L. 3 Y NW Dec. 16, 1930; N. M. LQWER HEATING UNIT FOR LOCOMOTIVE TENDERS Filed Jan: 7, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 u u n u n u m u u n 4 k n lnHh fll l l l ldl l w 1% yen 60M:

8 Sheets-Sheet 5 N. M. LOWER HEATING UNIT FOR LOCOMOTIVE TENDERS Filed Jan. 7, 1924 Dec. 16, 1930.

J up w We.--

Dec. 16, 1930. N. M. LOWER 1,785,275

HEATING UNIT FOR LOCOMOTIVE TENDERS Filed Jan. '7, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 I| 2: rvIm-IIII t 1% van 602 ficcrz lower Dec. 16; 1930.

N. M. LOWER HEATING UNIT FOR LOCOMQTIVE TENDERS Filed Jan- '7, 1924 a Sheets-Sheet 7 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 N. M. LOWER HEATING UNIT FOR LOCOMOTIVE TENDERS Filed. Jan. 7,1924

l l l l lflflhl l lfl HHHHl I I I I llll I III.

Dec 16, 1930.

Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE) NATHAN M. LOWER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO THE STANDARD STOKER COMPANY INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION or DELAWARE HEATING UNIT FOR LOCOMOTIVE TENDERS Application filed. January '7, 1924. Serial No. 684,802.

This invention relates to mechanism for preheating water supplied to boilers of steam engines and the like and is especially adapted to be employedin connection with boilers for locomotive of railway trains.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a novel device for preheating the water from the tank before it is supplied to the boiler, that is adapted to be applied to the conventional types of locomotive tenders.

Another object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for utilizing the heat contained in exhaust steam from the engine for preheating the water supplied to the boiler.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for heating a small quantity of water as it is needed for supplying the boiler together with mechanism for preventing the fiow of the heated water into the water tank of the tend- Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive and its tender diagrammatically shown;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a locomotive tender, with partsbroken away, showing the invention in position thereon;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the tender, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a section of the heater unit taken on line 55 of Fig. 3;

, Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the tender, with parts broken away, showinga modified form of the device;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the tender, with the device in position thereon, with parts in section on line 88 of Fig. 7 and parts broken away;

Fig. 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig. 8; I Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation on line 1010 of- Fig. 7 ,with the filter removed;

Fig. 11 is a plan View of'the tender, showing a still further modified form of'the device in dotted lines; and

Fig. 12 is a section on line 1212 of Fig. 11. V

On the drawings the reference character5 designates a locomotive, and 6 the tender therefor. The tender 6 is provided withthe usual coal bunker? and water tank 8 Sup ported on the frame 9. The locomotive is provided with a suitable water transferring mechanism 10, for transferring the water from the tank 8 to the boiler 11. For convenience in description this mechanism will be referred to as a pump. This mechanism is secured in any suitable manner to the rear portion of the locomotive, as shown in Fig. 1.

The preheating device comprises a reser voir 15 so'located with reference to the tank that it is supplied therefrom by gravity, and with reference to the pump that it delivers to the latter either by gravity or by pressure developed by the heating operation which approximates the head of Water in the tank. Provision is made for automatically con trolling the delivery of water from the tank to the reservoir, for preventing the heating of the water in the tank either by the admission of steam or the return of the heated water thereto, and for controlling the admissionof steam to the reservoir.

The length of the conventional tender is such that if the reservoir be located near either end thereof the flow to the reservoir may be entirely stopped on steep grades when the-water levelin the'tank is low. This diificulty isminimized by locating the reservoir approximately midway of the tank ends. In the type of tender shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 in which no center sills are employed, the reservoir 15 may be arranged transversely of the tender between the side sills 16 and 17. The device is secured in position in any desired manner by any suitable means such as the fastening means "19.

Any suitable conduit may be provided for conducting the water from the tank to the reservoir. As shown, this conduit comprises a collar 20 extending about an opening 21 and clamped between the tank and reservoir, and a tubular member 22 forming a port and secured to the collar 20. This member eX- tends downwardly into a chamber or well 220 inthe lower portion of the reservoir. The passageway 22 is adapted to be closed by a suitable valve 23 to preventthe flow of water from the reservoir into said tank. The well or chamber 220 affords a liquid seal for the valve 23 thereby preventing the entrance of steam through said conduit into said tank, as will presently appear. The valve is normally closed by a counterweight 24 or equivalent means.

Exhaust steam from thelocomotive is used for heating the water in the reservoir, and is delivered thereto through a pipe, as 25, as its normal pressure, which in presentpractice is about fifteen pounds, entering through the port 27, which is preferably elongated as shown, (Fig. A check valve 28 is provided in the pipe to prevent back flow of water therethrough should the pipe pressure drop below that in the tank.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 a plurality of perforated metallic batfle plates 30 may be employed for diffusing the steam. These plates are suitably supported on brackets carried by the side walls of the reservoir 15 whereby they may be removed for cleaning, replacement or repairs, one of the reservoir walls, as 31, being removable. The plates are preferably arranged in superposed spaced relation and are of increasing length from the bottom upward and may, if desired, be curved downward over the port 27 as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the steam that bubbles up through the water will be received between them. The plates may be covered on one or both sides with suitable filter material 32 for collecting the oil from the steam and water. The plates 30 are prevented from moving longitudinally by means of the end engaging members 33 and 34. the member 33 being arranged at an angle and provided with openings registering with the spaces between said plates as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Aperforated plate 35 arranged adjacent to the bottom of the reservoir and in spaced relation thereto permits sediment to accumulate on the bottom of the tank from which it maybe removed through the opening 36.

In order that thewater valve 23 may open to permit the flow of water from the'tank to the reservoir from'time to time as the reservoir is depleted, it is necessary to provide means for stopping the flow of steam into saidreservoir so that the pressure in the reservoir may diminish sutiicientlyto permit the pressure of the water in the tank'to open the valve. To accomplish this function a valve 37 with means for automatically closing the same when the water in the reservoir falls below a predetermined level, is employed The valve'37 is located in the valve chamber 26 and in the form illustrated in 2 to 5 its opening and closing is controlled by a float 38. The float is located in the space between the ends of the bathe plates 30 and the end of the reservoir, and its stem is rigidly secured to a rock shaft 39 suitably journaled on the side wall of the reservoir between two of the baffle plates 30. An arm 40 rigidly secured on the end of the rock shaft 39 is connected to the valve 37 for opening and closing the same.

An opening 40a is provided in the reservoir in the space beyond the baflie plates over which may be mounted a chamber 41 to which is secured a conduit 42 for conducting the heated water from the reservoir to the pump 10 or the like for supplying water to the boiler. The chamber 41 is employed in order that the conduit 42 may be properly located inwardly of the wheels 43 of the tender. A small vent pipe 44 for the reservoir 15 is provided so that when the steam valve 37 is closed the pressure in the reservoir will rapidly fall thereby permitting the water valve 23 to open and water to flow from the tank to the reservoir.

The vent pipe 44 is provided with a return bend 440 extending above the tank. The free end ofthe pipe terminates in t-lie'tank as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 8. A small aperture 441 provided in the upper portion of the return bend serves as means for indicating the condition within the reservoir. If, for instance, steam is escaping with unusual force from the vent, it will show that considerable pressure has developed in the reservoir, which will indicate that the'pump is not working, or that some of the valves are not properly opera-ting.

By providing a chamber or well 220 into which the tubular member 22 may extend, a water seal is provided for the valve and the walls of the chamber protect the'valve from steam entering the reservoir through the opening or port 27.

The'theoretical operation of the device as follows. The tank being supplied with water and the locomotive being at rest, the heating reservoir is completely filled, whereupon the valve 23 autom atieally closes. The locomotive being started, steam immediately enters the reservoir and quickly heats-the water therein. The pump being operated. the level of the water in the .reservoir is lowered, steam accumulating above it and maintaining a pressureapproximately equal to the head of water in the tank, and sufficient to maintain the valve 23 in closed position and to raise the hot water to the-pipe 42 and thus continue-to supply the pump by gravity.

As the level of the water in the reservoir lowers the valve 37 is moved toward its seat by the descent of the float 38, and is ,closed when the reservoir is about .half filled with water, the parts being proportioned approximately as illustrated. The inflow of steam being thus stopped the pressure in the tank is quickly reduced by the action of the vent 44, permitting the valve 23 to open and the water to flow into the reservoir until the float is sufliciently raised to again admit steam. As soon as pressure is developed within the reservoir equal to the tank head the valve 23 again closes and water is supplied to the pump as before until, by the action of the float, the steam is again cut ofi. Thus while the locomotive is running the level of water in the reservoir varies from slightly above to slightly below that at which the float closes the valve 37. As soon as the locomotive is stopped and the supply of steam is thus cut ofi", the reservoir quickly fills and the cycle of operation as described will be repeated when the locomotive is again set in motion. is employed between the pump and the pipe leading from the reservoir and between the section of the steam pipe 25 carried by'the locomotive and that carried by the tender to compensate for the relative movement of said locomotive and tender.

In Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive is shown a difierent form of heating device which is adapted to be employed in connection with tenders in which center sills 45 are employed although its use is not limited to this type of tenders.

In this form of the device, the reservoir 46 is located longitudinally of the tender and is adapted to be secured between an outer sili as 17 and the intermediate sill 45. This form of the device diflers still further from that shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive in that the water pipe 47 leading to the injector pump is located within an enlarged portion of the steam pipe 48. This is accomplished by providing the front end of the reservoir 46 with a chamber 49 which is provided with separate compartments 50 and 51. The rear end of the water pipe 47 is adapted to be attached to a wall of the compartment 50 and is in communication therewith. The compartment 50 is in communication with the reservoir 46 through an opening 52.

The rear end of the enlarged steam pipe 48 is secured to the chamber 49. The steam enters the compartment 51 through an opening which is closed by a valve 53 controlled by a float 54 in a manner similar to the construction shown in Figs. 2 to 5. A pipe 55 conducts the steam from the compartment 51 to the rear end of the reservoir discharging beneath the bafiie plate 56.

The valve 57 for controlling the flow of water from the tank 12 to the reservoir 46 is substantially the same as that previously described.

A filter 58 of suitable material is secured across the reservoir, above the front end of The usual flexible connection ervoir 64 through the the plate 56 for separating the oil from the water. The filter may be removed through a suitable openin 59 in the bottom of the reservoir. This lter divides the reservoir into a water supplying or heating chamber or compartment 460 and a settling chamber or compartment 461. Steam entering the chamber 460, as well as water from the tank 12, keeps the water in said chamber in violent agitation, but the filter prevents this agitation from aifecting the water in the settling chamber 461. By means of this arrangement the water in the chamber 461 is comparativelyquiet, permitting the sediment contained therein to sink to the bottom of the tank.

' A perforated plate 60 may also be provided for assisting in collecting sediment. The sediment may be removed in the usual manner through the opening 61 in the bottom of the reservoir. i

through a steam pipe 62 extending transversely beneath the forward end of the tender. The pipe 62 may be provided with a suitable check valve 63similar to the valve 28 shown in Fig. 4 for preventing the pressure in the tank from forcing water along said pipe.

In the form of the device shown in F gs.

' 11 and 12 the reservoir 64 is arranged longitudinallyof the tender as in the form shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive. In this form, the steam and Water pipes 65 and 66, respectively, are arranged independently of each other, the water pipe being arranged to extend directly forwardly from the reservoir between the'two sills 67 on one side of the tender while the steam pipe extendsbetween'the two sills 68 on the other side of the tender. In order to extend the pipe '65 transversely beneath the center sills 67 and 68 it is necessary to offset the same as shown in Fig. 12. The pipe 65 communicates with an extension of the compartment 69 of the chamber 70. A floatoperated valve 71 controlsthe flow of steam into the lower compartment 72 of the chamber and fromthence it passes into the respipe 73 as in the form shown in Figs. 7 to 10.

In all forms of the device the heating construction constitutes a separate unit that may be detachably connected in position on the tender by any suitable means. It is adapted to be arranged exteriorly of the water tank whereby the temperature of the water therein is not afiected.

While several desirable forms of the device are shown, it is understood that other forms may be used and that various changes in the form, size, construction, composition 31 and arrangement of the several parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth.

Steam is led to the enlarged pipe 48 I claim as my invention:

1. In a tender for locomotives, a tank, a

reservoir associated with said tank from which water is supplied to the boiler of said locomotive, means for conducting the exhaust steam of said locomotive to said reservoir, means associated with said reservoir and controlled by the water level therein for admitting said steam thereto, and means controlled by the pressure in said reservoir for admitting water to said reservoir from said tank.

2. In combination, a water tank for supplying water to a steam boiler, a reservoir associated with said tank and in communication therewith, a valve for controlling the flow of water from said tank to said reservoir, a conduit for conducting steam to said reservoir for heating the water therein and for assisting in holding said valve in closed position, a pipe for conducting water from said reservoir, and means for varying the pressure within said reservoir, said means comprising a valve in said conduit controlled by the water level in said reservoir, and a vent for said reservoir.

3. In combination, a locomotive provided with a boiler, a tender for said locomotive comprising a water tank, a conduit between said tank and boiler, said conduit including a waterheater below said tender, said water heater comprising a reservoir, a filter for dividing said reservoir into a heating and a settling compartment, said heating compartment being provided with a water inlet port for receiving water by gravity from said tank and said settling compartment being provided with a water outlet port, means for conducting steam to said heating compartment for heating the water therein, and a float controlled valve in said reservoir for controlling the admission of steam to said heating compartment.

4. A feed water heater including a substantially closed receptacle provided with a restricted vent, a water supply pipe discharging into the receptacle, check means arranged to prevent back flow through said water supply pipe, means for conducting water from said receptacle, a seam inlet to said receptacle provided with valve means, and means arranged to close said steam inlet Valve means when the water level in said re ceptacle falls below a predetermined point.

NATHAN M. LOWER. 

